Catch of the Week: Snakes

06-16-2017

Recently, our pest patrol was asked to take care of a slippery situation. A home in Des Moines found a snake in their pool, as shown in the photo above. Although this is not common, if you have an unwanted pest in your pool like this one, you'll want to call a pest control professional right away.

Identifying a Snake Infestation

Snake infestations can be pretty easy to spot; usually, you just need to search around your property. If you start seeing more snakes than usual, you might have an infestation. Call a pest control company right away when dealing with snakes.

Diet and Habitat of Snakes

Each snake species is different, and therefore their diet and behavior can be, too. However, most snakes in Iowa have a diet that consists of small animals such as rodents, birds, frogs, worms, etc. Depending on the species, snakes can live in a variety of habitats from a backyard, to a field and even in a lake or pond (or in this case, a pool).

Snakes in Iowa

Several species of snakes live in Iowa. The majority of them are harmless, but it's important to be cautious of any snake that you encounter, just in case. The most common snakes in Iowa are:

Brown Snake

Copperhead (venomous, however, rarely fatal for humans)

Diamondback Watersnake

Eastern Garter Snake

Eastern Hognose Snake

Eastern Racer

Gopher Snake

Graham's Crayfish Snake

Lined Snake

Massasauga Rattlesnake (venomous)

Milk Snake

Northern Water Snake

Plainbelly Watersnake

Plains Garter Snake

Prairie Kingsnake

Prairie Rattlesnake (venomous)

Redbelly Snake

Ringneck Snake

Smooth Green Snake

Speckled Kingsnake

Timber Rattlesnake (venomous)

Western Fox Snake

Western Rat Snake

Western Ribbon Snake

Western Worm Snake

Western Hognose Snake

Snake Spotter

Have you noticed a slithering creature in your neighborhood? Whether you find a snake at home or you come across one while out and about, we want to know about it! Share a picture of the snake you found on Snake Spotter*!

*Snakes are extremely interesting creatures, but you should always proceed with caution. Never put yourself in harm's way to capture a photo!

Leading Pest Control Service in Des Moines

Have you encountered a situation similar to this homeowner? Our team at Preferred Pest is here to help with any pest control need you may have. Remember, it is crucial to be very careful around these creatures. Feel free to schedule an appointment online or give us a call at (515) 276-7277.